BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The public board overseeing Birmingham's $64 million baseball park and museum development today approved $500,000 to help displaced businesses that choose to remain in the city.

The Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Board this afternoon set up the incentive program, part of a promise made by city officials after announcing plans to build the stadium and entertainment district near Railroad Park.

The board also promised better communication and notification of its activities to the City Council.

About 17 businesses in the midtown area will leave as buildings are demolished to make way for the new sports development. Tracey Morant-Adams, the city's economic development director, said the city has made contact with 15 owners about the upcoming incentive program.

"We've already received requests from some," she said. "We certainly recognize the small-business community here is vital to the overall business landscape."

Morant-Adams said several businesses will leave the site by mid January while others vacate by mid March, according to agreements with the landowners.

To receive relocation assistance, business owners must agree to remain within the city limits and show evidence of securing a new location here.

Board member Brian Mackin, UAB's athletics director, called the program both good for business and goodwill surrounding the ballpark project.

Today's meeting was also the first attended by staff from the City Council, after receiving direct notice of the gathering. PACE members agreed to improve notice and information sharing with the council, which passed an ordinance Tuesday calling for more transparency.

"We're going to try to improve that communication, and that is what was in the resolution," said Virginia Williams, executive assistant to Mayor Bell.

PACE chairman Bob Jones went further, saying the board would have a policy of full disclosure, including giving more than the minimum required notice, provide all past board minutes and documents regarding the recent financial transactions to pay for the project.

"We can fix that," he said. "We can do a little bit better with direct communication with the mayor and City Council about everything that's going on."

The resolution from Councilwoman Carole Smitherman requires bimonthly reports from the five-member PACE board in addition to notification of its meetings and copies of all contracts relating to the project.

The council in August approved rules that gave the council two appointments to the board and gave Bell three. The mayor made his appointments and the board held its first meeting in September, long after the process had begun.

Jones said the goals of the board are shared and the mayor and council are partners in the project.

"It is much easier to do it together than fighting each other," he said.

Councilman Steven Hoyt called PACE's commitment today a positive statement that would provide more transparency in the process.

"That's the kind of response we need from a board that has the task of guarding the taxpayer's dollars," Hoyt said in an interview. "We need a board that's going to be accountable and trustworthy."